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The Atlanta Hawks and host Charlotte Hornets are finding out about roster depth in different ways this week and will be tested again when they meet Saturday night.

Charlotte was without top scorer LaMelo Ball on Friday night. Player availability will be critical again leading up to Saturday’s game but other players down the roster have played well in bigger roles.

“A lot of optimism from me in terms of potentially getting guys back, but also just optimism in this group,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “We’ve shown that, no matter who is available on a night-to-night basis, we continue to play the right way.”

Charlotte has lost four games in a row and six of its last seven.

The Hawks have won two in a row following a three-game skid. They turned in perhaps their best defensive effort of the season Friday.

Atlanta rode a big third quarter and 23 points from reserve De’Andre Hunter to a 117-101 home victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost for only the third time this season but the second time in a row to the Hawks.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit for the little things he does,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said of Hunter. “He has really embraced shooting the 3. He’s a guy I feel lucky to coach.”

Atlanta had three players reach the 20-point mark, including guard Trae Young. The support in addition to Young is a bonus for the Hawks.

The Hornets suffered a 99-98 home loss to the New York Knicks on Friday.

Ball was out with a sore calf, forward Miles Bridges remained sidelined with a knee bruise and key reserve Tre Mann missed the game with a back ailment. Ball’s injury came in the final minute Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.

Ball is averaging 31.1 points and 6.9 assists per game, so his absence in back-to-back games would loom large if he’s not available Saturday.

“He just felt a little something,” Lee said. “With the holiday (Thursday) and early tip (Friday), we haven’t had a lot of time to evaluate him. They’re going to continue doing that, but it’s an unfortunate situation.”

Brandon Miller had 20 points for the Hornets, who led by four with six minutes to play.

Charlotte received a lift from KJ Simpson, who provided 11 points in a season-high 16 minutes off the bench.

“He was really engaged, brought a physicality with him, another level of competitiveness,” Lee said. “Offensively, I thought he did a great job of making the Knicks have to honor him. He was playing a little bit of pick-and-roll, driving and kicking to some guys.”

When these teams last met on Oct. 25 in Atlanta, Ball had 34 points behind a career-high nine 3-pointers but committed 10 turnovers as well.

Atlanta countered that night with Young’s 38 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. His strong night helped offset the Hornets’ 42-point second quarter and secured a 125-120 win for the Hawks.

A bright side for the Hornets on Friday came with their early defense. The 15 points allowed in the first quarter marked the fewest in any quarter this season against Charlotte.

–Field Level Media

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